Cal's Zach Kline says he will transfer

BERKELEY -- Backup quarterback Zach Kline confirmed Sunday that he is in the process of securing a release from his scholarship to Cal and will transfer to another school.

"It's for sure," said Kline, a redshirt freshman from Danville.

Also leaving is offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa, coach Sonny Dykes said. Tagaloa, a sophomore from Salesian High, was voted a team captain before this season but lost his starting tackle job late in the year, then was moved to guard.

Dykes, in a phone interview, said the school won't be announcing changes to the roster until the Dec. 18 junior college signing date. But he confirmed Kline and Tagaloa are exiting, and he believes there will be more defections.

Cal football quarterback Zach Kline (#8) drops back to pass during practice at the University of California in Berkeley, Calif. on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (Kristopher Skinner/Bay Area News Group)

"Typically, there's going to be some (players leave) after the first year. Guys don't feel like they fit in. I'm not worried," Dykes said. "Honestly, I thought we would have double-digits (depart). I don't think it will be anywhere near to that."

Cal was 1-11 this season in Dykes' debut, including a 63-13 loss to Stanford in the Big Game.

Kline, a high-level recruit out of San Ramon Valley High, said he met last week with Dykes and was convinced his best chance to play is elsewhere.

"I just think from what the coaches have told me, I have a better opportunity somewhere else," he said. "They put it to me straight and in a professional way, which I appreciate."

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Kline said he has no idea where he will go from here, and said the paperwork is not yet complete so he cannot yet take calls from other schools.

Freshman Jared Goff was Cal's starter in all 12 games this season after winning a fall camp duel with Kline, who at one time was regarded as the heir to the No. 1 job.

Kline was rated as the nation's No. 4 incoming freshman quarterback in 2012 by Athlon, Lindy's and Phil Steele. Athlon rated him as the nation's No. 9 overall prospect. At San Ramon Valley, he passed for 3,630 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior in 2011.

Kline enrolled early at Cal and was impressive in the 2012 spring game, throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion pass for the winning points.

But he redshirted in 2012, and Goff won the job in August, passing for a Cal single-season record 3,508 yards this season. Kline got the chance to come off the bench in six games and was 43 for 82 for 443 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

"I wish I could stay at Cal. I tried to stay all year," Kline said. "It's clear that Jared's the guy. They told me, 'If you want to start, you should go somewhere else.' "

Tagaloa, a 6-foot-8, 330-pounder from Richmond, was rated by Athlon as the fifth-best prospect in the same Cal recruiting class that brought Kline to Berkeley.

The Cal coaching staff decided at midseason that Tagaloa was better suited to play guard, explaining he had trouble containing quick pass rushers on the outside.